Hand crank-operated portable exerciser



March 14, 1967 H. c. SIMMONS 3,309,034

HAND CRANK-OPERATED PCJRTABLE EXERCISER Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 14, 1967 H. c. SIMMONS 3,309,084

HAND CRANK-OPERATED PORTABLE EXERCISER Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 66 94 86 38 6O INVENTOR. 84 7| 70 in-S United States Patent Uhfice 3,30%,(934 Patented Mar. 24, 1957 3,309,834 HAND CRANK-(DPERATED PGRTABLE Henry Charles Simmons, 1070 Dawn View Lane NW., Atlanta, Ga. 3&327 Filed Feb. 11, 1954, Ser. No. 344,023 1 Claim. (Cl. 2'7279) This invention relates to exercising apparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatus for exercising the arms, shoulders and upper torso.

One type of exercising apparatus that is known comprises hand cranks connected by a chain and sprocket with a bicycle type flywheel against which a retarding roller is adjustably engaged. The prior devices of this type all include heavy and cumbersome frame works in order to provide stability or require fixed attachment to a supporting wall or the like. Thus, these devices remain more or less permanently in their position of use and occupy considerable space which is undesirable in relatively small quarters.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art apparatus, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an exercising device of the aforementioned type that occupies relatively small space, and is readily movable between operative and storage locations.

It is another object of the invention to provide an exercising device of the foregoing type that is relatively light in weight and easily portable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an exercising device of the foregoing type that is adjustable and collapsible so that'it can be reduced to occupy a minimum of space to facilitate transport or storage, and can be adjusted for use by persons of different heights,

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an exercising device of the aforementioned type having simplicity in design, economy of construction and efficiency in operation.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an exercising device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side view in elevation of a retractable roller in operative position;

FIG, 5 is a similar view to FIG. 4, but showing the roller in retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side view in elevation similar to FIG. 2, but showing the roller in retracted position, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, side view in elevation similar to FIG. 7, but showing the platform folded for storage.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercising device in accordance with the present invention comprises a platform base 19 on one end of which is mounted a bifurcated upright 12 on the upper end of which is journaled a shaft 14 to which is fixed a pair of cranks 16 having handgrips 17, and a sprocket 18. A flywheel 20, preferably a bicycle type wheel, is journaled within the upright 12 and has a sprocket 22 drivingly connected with the sprocket 13 by a chain 24. Rotation of the flywheel 26 is selectively retarded by a pressure roller 2 5 journaled on a lever 23 that is pivotally mounted within the upright 12 by bolt means or the like 36 The tension of the roller 26 on the periphery of the wheel 2"? is adjusted by an elongated rod 32 which depends from and is pivotaily supported by an arm 3- extending from the upright 12, and having a handle 36 at its upper end. The lower end portion 38 of the rod 32 is threaded and engages in a nut portion 40, FIG. 3, that is carried by a stub shaft 42 pivotally mounted in the free end of the lever 28. The wheel 20 and sprocket 22 are fixed on a hub 44 that is journaled on a cross bolt 45 that fits in inclined slots 48 in the side bars 50 forming the upright 12. The tension of the chain 24 may be regulated by the location of the cross bolt 45 within the slots 48, the bolt being clamped in position by nuts 46 bearing against unnumbered washers engaging the edges of the slots 48.

The side bars 50 constitute the upper portion of the upright 12, the lower portion of which includes two side bars 52 having a series of bolt holes 54 therein for selectively receiving bolts 56 extending through the side bars 50. Thus the'elevation of the cranks 16 can be varied by the selective positioning of the bolts 56 within the bolt holes 54, and When it is desired to transport the device, the bolts 56 can be removed so that the device can be collapsed into two parts. The uprights 52 are fixed rigidly to a base plate 58 that is attached to the forepart of the platform to as by bolt means l.

To facilitate movement of the apparatus between positions of use and storage, the platform It) may be provided with a plurality of rollers such as a caster 62 at the f0rward end of the platform, and a pair of retractable roller units 64 on each side of the rear portion of the platform. Conveniently the retractable roller units 64, as best shown in FIGS. 46, may comprise rollers 66 journaled on stub shafts 63 carried at one end of levers 70 which are mounted by a pivot 72 on a U-shaped bracket 74 that straddles the edge of the platform and is secured thereto by a bolt 75. The opposite ends of the levers 70 are turned perpendicularly to form handles 71 which may be engaged by an operators foot to swing the levers between operative and inoperative positions.

The lever 70 is provided with an angularly arranged notch 78 adapted to receive a pin 80 rigidly supported by the bracket 74 and extending laterally thereof within the path of the lever '70. When the lever is swung up to operative position, as shown in FIG. 4, the pin 80 engages within the notch 78 to stop the lever in an overcenter position and retain the roller 66 in ground engaging position to support the platform 13 at an elevation and permit mobility thereof on the caster 62 and rollers 66. During operation of the device, however, the lever 70 may be swung to a position substantially in line with the platform It}, as shown in FIG. 5, and in this position, the rollers 66 will be lifted from ground engagement and the rear edge of the platform 10 engages the ground, as shown in FIG. 7, so that the device is immobile.

To further reduce the size of the apparatus for storage purposes, the platform It) may be divided into a forward portion 82 and a rear portion 84 connected to the forward portion 82 by hinges 86 so that the rear portion 84 may be swung up against the upright 12, as shown in FIG. 8. Suitable lock means may be provided to retain the rear platform portion 84 in rigid coplanar relationship with the forward platform portion 82, and one such lock means may comprise a channel shaped member 88 slidably mounted on at least one side and preferably both sides of the platform.

The channel portion 88 may have an elongated slot gt) for receiving a pin 92 to retain the channel on the platform able folding of the rear platform portion 34, or it can be slid to the opposite extreme, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, in which event the channel straddles a substantial part. of

both of the adjoining portions of the platform parts 82 and 34 to retain the same in rigid coplanar relationship. Conveniently, the channel portion 83 may have a small upstanding flange 94 to facilitate sliding thereof by the operators foot.

In the use of the exerciser, the two platform portions 82, 84 are secured in coplanar position by moving the locking channels 88 into straddling relation thereof; and the rollers 66 are retracted so that the rear edge of the platform 10 rests on the ground surface and is immobile, as shown in FIG. 7. The operator then stands on the platform 10 to thereby maintain the device in stable position, grasps the handle grips 17, and operates the cranks 16 to drive the flywheel 20.

If the flywheel 20 rotates too easily to produce the desired degree of exercise and muscular effort, the tension of the retarding roller 26 on the flywheel is increased by turning the rod 32 by means of its handle 36 to thread the nut 40 down the threaded rod portion 38 to depress the adjacent end of the lever 28, Obviously, the'rod 32 is rotatively supported but restrained against axial movement by the bracket 34. On the other hand, if the drag on the flywheel 2i) is too great, the pressure of the roller 26 is relieved by threading rod 32 in the opposite direction.

When the exercise is completed, the levers 7 it may then be swung by lifting their handle portions 71 to lower the rollers 66 into ground engagement, the levers 7% being swung until they pass beyond center and their notches 78 engage the fixed pins 80. The exerciser may then be rolled to a storage position such as a closet or the like. If the space; available for storage is extremely limited, then the platform It may be folded by sliding the locking channels 88 forwardly onto the forward platform portion 82 and folding the rear piatform portion 84 up against theupright 12, as shown in FIG. 8.

The platform 10 is limited in size to afford only sufficient firm footing for the operator, and is relatively thin and lightweight to increase portability. The platform may be made of plywood, aluminum plates or any material suitable for the purpose that has sufficient strength and rigidity but is light in weight. Similarly, the bars 54) and 52 forming the upright 12 are relatively light in weight so that the whole device is readily portable and may be easily carried and transported by a user from place to place and even during travel. To decrease space requirements during travel or the like, the upright 12 may be separated by removing the upper bars 5t) from the lower bars 52 by removal of the bolts 56 so that the unit is then in two integral parts.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that'many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, there'- fore, is notto be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A compact portable exerciser comprising:

a lightweight, flat platform of a size to accommodate the feet of a standing operator;

a substantially vertical upright attached at its bottom only to one end of said platform;

a flywheel on said upright;

crank means for hand operation journalled-on said upright above the flywheel;

gearing connecting said means to said flywheel;

retarding means mounted on said upright and engaging said upright comprising a first parallel spaced pair of bars extending perpendicularly from said platform;

a second parallel spaced pair of bars supporting said flywheel, crank means and retarding means;

means for releasably securing said second pair of bars to and in alignment with said first pair of bars at one of a number of selected elevations;

said retarding means including a lever pivotally. mounted. between said second pair of bars;

a roller journalled on one end of said lever for engagement with said flywheel; and

means for regulating the pressure of said roller on said flywheel and including a rodrotatably supported by said upright and having a threaded portion and a nut having threaded engagement with said rod and pivotally connected with the opposite end of said lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,479 3/1949 Moffat 28043.l7 2,642,288 6/ l 953 Bell. 2,733,044 2/1957 Sbarra 272-4 79 FOREIGN PATENTS 648,641 1/1951 Great Britain.

0 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner, 

